Term 4 Week 1 / 3 – 6 October (SeB 248)

From the Executive’s Desk

As we enter the final term of the 2023 school year, I hope you’ve had the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate over the last fortnight. 

Term 4 has always been my favourite term. The weather warms (yes, that’s important for a former Victorian), schools celebrate the year’s achievements, students graduate and contemplate their next exciting chapter, end of year staff gatherings honour the work of the year passed, and we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. A term of celebration and contemplation, with a well-deserved rest at the end of the year. While the final term of the year may be a favourite for me, I acknowledge that it can also be very busy and, at times, possibly overwhelming, and one whereby self-compassion and well-being can often be put on the back burner.

One of the term’s many upcoming significant dates is World Mental Health Day on the Tuesday 10 October. The theme for 2023 is ‘Mental health is a universal human right.’ In Australia, we are fortunate to have access to mental health support through helplines, chats, allied health practitioners, school counsellors, or employee assistance programs. Much is being done in schools to educate young people and staff on the benefits of mental health and wellbeing and practical ways to achieve these.

For more information and resources to support Mental Health Day, please visit:

School resources — Queensland Mental Health Week (qldmentalhealthweek.org.au) 
Talking About Mental Illness series for students - Black Dog Institute
Mental Health classroom activities | ReachOut Schools
Educator Wellbeing - Be You

Have a wonderful start to the term.

Brooke Daniels 
(Acting) Deputy Executive Director 

CATHOLIC ED. ANNOUNCEMENTS ALL SCHOOL/CES STAFF

STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS

Celebrate World Teachers’ Day - Resources Available

Celebrate World Teachers’ Day on Friday, October 27. Our teachers make a difference every day, educating and inspiring young Queenslanders.  

World Teachers’ Day is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to recognise teachers - and all school staff - for the positive impact they make in communities and on students’ lives.  

Get involved! Use the tag #WTDQLD in your social media. Download resources, social images and read teachers stories.  

(Principals may also wish to include this in school newsletters.)

John Phelan 
Manager Communications and Engagement  

Empower your Financial Decision-Making

Unisuper is one of Catholic education's default funds. Unisuper is offering financial well-being support for our employees with the launch of its Financial Wellbeing Hub.

Unisuper is nurturing its higher education and research roots by launching its Financial Wellbeing Hub in partnership with Money 101, a place where Catholic Education, Diocese of Cains employees can go to empower their financial decision-making—no matter the level of financial knowledge.

The state-of-the-art hub offers a diverse range of engaging learning material such as articles and interactive webcasts, covering a variety of topics.

There’s never been a better time to empower your financial decision-making amid the uncertain financial climate. The hub is founded on focus group feedback—made up of real people facing real issues.

You don’t have to be a UniSuper member to access the Financial Wellbeing Hub.

Consider kick-starting your financial wellbeing journey with UniSuper’s live Managing your financial wellbeing webcast. It’s a great way to get familiar with the financial wellbeing topic, and an interactive way of acquiring financial knowledge from a UniSuper expert. 

Get financially confident with the Financial Wellbeing Hub here and sign up for the Managing your financial wellbeing webcast or another UniSuper webcast that interests you. If you can’t make your preferred webcast, don’t worry—it’s available on demand

Visit the Financial Wellbeing Hub.

Deb Crotty 
Manager Human Resource Administration

HALT Certification Update

As you are aware, AITSL have released the updated national Framework for the Certification of Highly Accomplished and Lead teachers. 

The QCT will work with the QCT Board to determine the next steps for the certification process in Queensland.  We will keep you updated with any changes to the certification process as information becomes available. 

In the meantime, if you are interested in HAT/LEAD certification QCEC are running the Introductory and In-depth and workshops, register here

Silvia Dimarco 
Leader Workforce Capability     

Teacher Workforce Data

It is important to understand the characteristics of the teacher workforce in order to find ways to support the profession. The recent Spotlight from AITSL on Australia’s Teacher Workforce today provides rich data and insights into the teaching profession.

A few snapshots:

• The teacher workforce is highly experienced. In 2022, 27% had been in the profession for 10-19 years while 14% of the workforce were early career teachers (within their first 5 years).
• In 2020 teacher workforce comprised of: 24% men, 76% women and 69% of senior leaders were women
• In schools; 61% teachers, 19% middle leaders, 10% senior leaders, 10% casual/relief.
• Of the graduates that commenced in 2015, 91% remained registered after 5 years of teaching.
• Short term contracts have declined and full time employment has become more common

It is important to note that reported intentions to leave teaching will not necessarily result in actual attrition. 
To find out more about currently available information on teacher attrition and supply, see the ATWD National Trends: Teacher Workforce publication

From a review of teacher quality, recruitment and retention, the following factors have the potential to improve teacher recruitment and retention:

• Manageable workloads, including protected planning time, reasonable hours and class allocations. “Teachers who rated their workload as more suitable were more likely to be retained” (EEF, 2023, p.22).
• Professional learning is important, particularly for supporting teacher efficacy which is an individual-level factor that supports retention.
• Induction, coaching and mentoring are particularly important retention strategies for early career teachers. Like professional learning, supports for early career teachers can foster teacher self-efficacy.
• Effective school leadership – aware and supportive of staff needs, visible, appropriately allocates work.
• Relationships (including with parents and students) and opportunities for collaboration (planning or learning teams, within and beyond the school).
• School climate in terms of school discipline and positive behaviour.

EEF. (2023). Teacher quality, recruitment, and retention: Rapid Evidence Assessment.

Silvia Dimarco 
Leader Workforce Capability  

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Find your next career change with the Cairns Diocese. 

To explore opportunities in other Dioceses go to Catholic Education Announcements, on the Staff Portal.   

QCEC UPDATES

Click here for the latest QCEC Communiques, Circulars and Education Updates or click the icon on the side panel of the ebulletin.   

QCEC Circular 2023/123 - Copyright Infringement Notices

QCEC Update on Copyright Infringement Notices

​Please find attached 

• a circular from QCEC regarding copyright infringement notices being sent to schools.  
• an information sheet on responding to copyright infringement notices. 

For any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Alison Hansen - Consultant Digital Learning and Library Services. Aternatively, contact QCEC contact Patrick MacDermott or  07 3316 5835. 

2023 123 Information Sheet on Responding to Copyright Infringement Notices.pdf
2023 123 Circular Copyright Infringement Notices.pdf

Belinda Emmi
Executive Manager Learning and Teaching

Catholic News

15 September  18 September  19 September  20 September 22 September  25 September  26 September

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES!

CES offers professional learning workshops, retreats and networks along with tools and resources to support your growth and development as an educator.   

iCat is our online Professional Learning catalogue. It is available now for you to browse professional learning opportunities.

This short 3 minute ‘how to’ video will help you use iCat.

How to enrol in a course
1. Click on the copy icon beside the ilearn code
2. Click on the link to go to “ilearn” and log in
3. Paste the course code into the search box
4. Open course details then click on enrol

We welcome any feedback or observations as you engage with iCat, especially during this initial period to Tammy Angel tangel@cns.catholic.edu.au

So we can meet your dietary needs watch this short video to show you how to add them to ilearn.

Classroom Profiling Training – Level 1

Classroom Profiling is a confidential and non-judgemental process that enables a teacher to reflect on and consolidate the effective engagement strategies they employ with their students.

This comprehensive 2-day training program is specifically targeted at experienced teaching staff in a coaching or mentoring role within their school.

Date: Thursday 19 & Friday 20 October 2023
Venue: 138 Spence Street, Parramatta Park  
Register via:  iCat (CNS04367)

Katrina Neville 
Manager Student Engagement

Engaging Your Faith Online Series October 2023

Engaging Your Faith is a series of short, online presentations that invite participants to reflect on what it means to be people of faith in the contemporary world.

Experienced lecturers from Catholic Theological College present on a variety of topics such as Philosophy, Spirituality, Biblical Studies, Christian Meditation, Theology, Interfaith Relations, and issues in Science and Religion. 

These sessions are an ideal opportunity for teaching staff at all stages of experience to explore the range of possibilities at CTC for professional, theological, and leadership development.
These sessions are eligible for maintaining accreditation for teaching in Catholic schools.

Topics include the following:

• The Women in the Gospel of Matthew
• Reading the Old Testament: Why and How?
• Scripture Meditation in the Classroom
• Religious Education for Today: Why and How?
• Philosophy and Education
• Science and faith issues
  

Cost: $25 per session or $40 if seeking teacher accreditation.
Book and pay directly through their website.

For full details please see the flyer below.   

Rachel McLean
Director Identity and Outreach   

iCat Summary for Term 4, 2023

Tammy Angel
Workforce Capability

Relationship Education - Parent Zoom Info Sessions

In Term 4, CES will be offering parent Zoom Information Sessions to support schools in their teaching of Relationship Education. Please see the flyer below for more information. 

For further information contact Caitlin Humphrys, Consultant - Relationships and Engagement  

Katrina Neville
Manager Student Engagement

Relationship Education Primary Years Crash Courses

In Term 4, CES will be offering 2-hour Zoom ‘crash courses’ for those seeking training or a refresher in the 3 endorsed Relationship Education programs relevant to primary years.  

For further information contact Caitlin Humphrys, Consultant - Relationships and Engagement via email.

Katrina Neville
Manager Student Engagement